Notes on my Birds.



263



The cock Cockatiel is a dear little bird, that I bred some

years ago. He will not come on your hand, but will take a

biscuit and whisper his two sayings that he is “Tommy’’and

“pretty boy” in the softest voice in your ear. Strangely enough

he will come as near as possible to your face, but declines your

hand altogether. A few weeks ago I gave “Tommy” a mate

and he was just overjoyed. It was funny to watch their first

meeting, he was so nearly wild with excitement that he kept

telling the bewildered hen that he was “Tommy” and “pretty

boy ” over and over again till she looked as if she really thought

he must be out of his mind. They are now a very happy little

couple for they are sitting very steadily on three perfectly white

eggs. “Tommy” is so filled with pride and importance that he

has rather forsaken me, his time being spent in jealously guard¬

ing the nest box or sitting on the eggs, and woe to an Aurita

Dove if it comes too near. If I look inside the box he fluffs out

his feathers and makes a hissing noise at me.


The Shelter in this division only contains some Barbary

Doves (kept as foster parents if needed for rarer doves eggs) and

my Orange Winged Amazon Parrot “ Cric.” His real name is

“ Criccietli,” called after the little Welsh watering place, where I

first saw him and bought him. “Cric” is a great pet. He is

very fond of me, and with him I always feel it is not a case of

cupboard love, for his great happiness is for me to talk to him

and pet him, often refusing dainties till I have noticed him. He

is very tame and comes out in the garden on my hand or shoulder

without any fear of his flying away. Sunday is our happiest day

when we see the most of each other, and can sit out together in

the garden, but it usually ends in my not getting much reading

done if “ Cric ” is there. He is a very gentle bird, and when he

is with me insists on being noticed and will give me little kisses

on my face and neck if I don’t talk to him and pet him sufficiently.

His look of supreme contentment when he has achieved his

object is most expressive.


The other parrots I have are a pair of Senegals called

“ Max ” and “ Bridget.” The former is a most intelligent bird.

I taught him to pick a nut from my pocket, and he has very

quaint conceited little ways, being very vain and self-important,



